Machines for inserting radial lead type components and the like



Sept. 9, 1958 J. E. WALSH 2,

- MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet l l i l Inventor Jo/m E'W/a/sh I By his Attorney Sept. 9,1958 J. E. WALSH MACHINES FOR mssmmc RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE l4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 27, 1956 In 2292110!" .John E Walsh Sept. 9; 1958] J. E. WALSH A 2,850,737 MACHINES/FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Janr 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sh eet 3 In uenfor John E. Walsh y hzs Attorney Sept. 9, 1958 J. EQWALSH MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27, 1956 Inventor John E Walsh By his Attorney Sept. 9-, 1958 J. E. WALSH mums FOR mssawmc. RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 9, 1958 J. E. WALSH 2,850,737

MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 l4 Sh'e'etS-SheQt 6 In 1/9 I? for John E. LValsh By his Attorney Sept. 9.; 1958 J. E. WALSH MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 27, 1956 Wi c M w WW. II n M z 5 wr u m a L 9 WA M M F m 7 4 n 6 I .JO Uu 6 B W w w z n 51 WC 0 QQQRQEQQ a :6 n I v v .v 5 W W a W rihhhttih y w Wm ma 6 w. M (/0 J /IY MQW M 4 f M I ll] w J l w I Sept. 9, 1958 12,850,737

. E. WALSH v MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 I j A? in we n for John E. V%2Zsh By his Attorney Sept. 9, 1958" J. E. WALSH 2,850,737 MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE 1 k QonEoNENTs AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 9..

In verz iol John E LVaZ-S/Z By his Aim /"neg.

Sept. 9,1958 '.,J.-E.WR L$H MACHINES o INSERTING IAL LEAD TYPE r c ONENTS AND LIKE Filed Jan. 27, ,1956 J ii :5 m J22 1 :Q I z ii "56 4 /42 i "F #2 1777267710 6 I A I db/zn E I/VG Sh I B his Attorne L H26 y 14 Sheets- Sheet 10' Sept. 9,1958 I J. E. WALSH 2,850,737

' MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Inventor Jb/Zn Walsh By his Attorney sept- 9, 1953 J. E. WALSH 2,850,737

MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE 4 COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 v 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Q Q 2x 5%10 W Li /6 i r? I I 8 E I w 4 [a 5% Y\ E o o \fi :1 I I -\L 42 v I j? 32/ in 47V/ /0 w W 4 j; #6 I wv-i iflws //4 x 1 /M h [rzve n for c/bhn- E Walsh.

By his Attorney azz I z i p 1958 J. E. WALSH 2,850,737 MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE v COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1956 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 fnven for @fohn E Walsh 53 his Attorney Sept. 9, 1958 J. E. WALSH MACHINES FOR INSERTING RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENTS AND THE LIKE 14 Sheets-Sheet 14' Filed Jan. 27, 1956 Q QM hmw InI/ niar, Jbhn E. Walsh By hisfiz forrzegaware MAQHENES FOR INSERTIYG RADIAL LEAD TYPE COMPONENT AND THE LIKE John E. Walsh, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey This invention relates to machines for mounting components in chassis. More particularly the invention is concerned with providing automatic mechanism for in-. stalling articles having radially projecting terminals, especially disk-like electronic components of the type usually having radial leads. While the invention is ac-' cordingly herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for installing disk-type capacitors in wiring boards, it is to be understood that in various aspects the invention has considerable utility in mounting different types of components and even non-electrical articles having projections receivable in different forms of chassis.

Machines have heretofore been designed for successively installing coaxial lead type components in electronic assemblages. Such machines are finding increasing application commercially, one construction being dis- ,closed, for example, in a copending application filed September 27, 1954, in the names of Leon D. Alderman et a1., Serial No. 458,312. The coaxial lead type component usually has a cylindrical or straight-sided body and.

normally lends itself more readily to being mechanically dealt with than does a radial lead type component. The latter, herein typified by the disk-type capacitor, nornited States Patent mally has a pair of spaced, flexible leads which protrude (their length is of the order of m") somewhat divergently in some instances and only generally parallel in other instances. The bodies of disk-type components, such as the molded ceramic capacitors, ordinarily have a circular periphery, and sections through the bodies are elliptic. While such disk-type components are within a standard electrical tolerance class, their body portions are not exactly uniform in shape, and their leads, though ordinarily quite straight, project one on either side of the plane containing their circular body perimeter.- These distinctions are mentioned to emphasize the considerably more difficult problems to be reckoned with in providing mechanism capable of automatically feeding, positioning, and otherwise controlling and dealing with successive disk-type components satisfactorily. So far as known, no machine for installing disk-type capacitors has hitherto been designed which has met with commercial success. A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a versatile machine for effectively and reliably mounting and securing radial lead type com- 7 ponents in chassis.

In keeping with the object just stated, a feature of the invention resides in providing a machine for mounting components having radial leads, including means for supporting a chassis having holes into which the leads are to be inserted, a head spaced from said means, means for transferring successive components from a supply to the head, inserting mechanism mounted in the head for receiving each component body when thus transferred and movable to thrust its leads into said chassis holes, respectively, and cooperative lead guides mounted for movement with the inserting mechanism to direct the insertion of said leads.

'As herein shown, vertically stacked disk capacitors leads 'above the lead guides. The illustrative inserting mechanism includes an ejector or holddown and i an inserting member provided with a spring clip for detachably receiving the body of the endmost component to be installed, the spring clip acting on the endmost component on said reciprocable supporting means yieldingly to establish the position of the body in the machine head, and the lead guides thereafter rising with respect to the inserting mechanism to define proper passageways for the;

leads. When the lead guides rise for this purpose, the horizontally reciprocable supporting'means retracts from beneath the inserting member to permit subsequent descent of the inserting member and. the lead guides toward the chassis. Of the three lead guides disclosed herein, one is centrally arranged to be interposed between the leads of each component, and the other two are side guides cooperating respectively with the central guide to control and, if necessary, straighten the leads of each component to accord with the spacing of the chassis holes. By cam means the' central guide is first removed from the component to be installed as the insertingmember approaches the chassis, and the side guides are then deflected from beneath the component body just after reaching the chassis. Upon reaching the bottom of the down stroke of the inserting member fully to insert the leads, the ejector or holddown is operative fromwithin the inserting member to engage the component body and hold it in mounted position on the chassis, while the inserting member and its spring clip are retracted;

tion but is disclosed and claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 612,453, filed September 27,1956 in my name.

The above and other features of the invention, together with novel details and combinations of parts, will now be described in greater particularity in connection with an illustrative machine in which the invention is embodied and with reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine for installing disk-type capacitors in chassis, the parts occupying their rest or starting positions;

.Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and indicating the machine head and driving connections;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III and showing details of clutch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a front view, partly in section, showing drive mechanism seen in Fig. 2; V

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the base portion of the machine, including an air motor and anvil mechanism op: erated thereby;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the anvils shown in Fig. 5; I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the anvils and its associated parts; 1

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation looking to the left in; Fig 2 and showing driving connections between the air of Fig. 2'

motor and shafts controlling operating mechanism in the machine head; V

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the head of the machine with its raceway mechanism re-. moved and the parts in their starting positions;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the head shown in Fig. 9; i

Fig. 11 is a section of parts shown in Fig. 10 and further enlarged to show the relation of a disk capaci tor to be installed, lead guides, and the lower end 'of an inserting member;

Fig. 12 is abottom 'view of a disk capacitor held as indicated in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical section of the machine head and raceway shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9, but showing the parts in the relative positions they occupy at a subsequent stage of operations ina cycle;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section of the head when its parts are in the positions indicated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 13, but showing theparts in the relative positions indicated in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view corresponding to Figs. 13 and 16, but showing the parts in therelative positions occupied at a still later stage in the cycle;

Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of operating parts of the machine head;

Fig. 19 is a timing chart indicating the sequence of certain operations in a cam operating cycle;

Fig. 19a is a timing chart indicating the sequence of certain operations in a machine cycle, the latter differing from the cycle depicted in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 20 is .a wiring diagram schematically showing one hookup of the machine.

For purposes of simplicity the illustrative machine is herein shown and described as being individually operated, but it will be understood that the machine is, with minor modifications in its control circuits, readily mountable at a 'station of an automatic conveyorized assembly line, for example,one of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,772,416, granted December 4, 1956, on an application filed' in the names of Adolph S. Dorosz and Thomas W. Snow.

While any suitable means may be employed for insuring reliable delivery of components in ordered arrangement to the illustrative machine, a tubular, longitudinally slotted'raceway 18 (Figs. 1 and 13) and a straddle rail 20 are shown herein for use in combination with a hopper 22 (Fig. 1-) of the type disclosed and claimed in a copending app'licatiomSerial No. 525,330, filed July 29, 1955, in the name of Milton H. Roske, wherein means is especially well'adapted to keep a raceway well filled with similarly oriented disk-type capacitors C respectively having leads L. The tubular raceway 18 and the rail 20 ares'ecured to a bracket 24 affixed to a'cover plate 26 (Figs. 2, 13, and 18) that is mounted on the front of a'composite bearing block 28 (including an attached side plate 30) and'constituting a portion of a machine head gene rally designated 32 (Figs. 1 and 2). The block 28 serves as aboaring guide for vertically movable inserting mechanism later explained and is accordinglyherein shown as mounted to be coaxially alined 'with a sleevebearing 34' constituting the upper portion of a support '36, thelatter being rotatably supported by a snap ring 38' (Figs. 2 and 10) bearing on an overhanging portion of a 1101- low C-frame 40 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3). The block 28 is accordingly secured to the support 36 by means 'of- I screws 42 extending through clearance holes in the support, and oppositely disposed'iset screws 44 (Fig. 9 are threaded through the supperesetq 'abut'the block 28 endwise foraccuratelyiestablishing its aliiiement. A binding stud 46 (Fig. 2) has an arcuate cutprinted wiring board 48 (Figs. 1 and 17).

4 away portion for binding the bearing 34 to secure the head as adjusted about a vertical axis.

The head 32 comprises operating instrumentalities to be described for installing successive components C from the raceway with their leads L thrust through preformed holes in chassis, such as, for example, a

Any suitable means may be employed for registering and supporting the board 48 relatively to the head 32 so that the lead-receiving chassis holes will be properly positioned to receive the component leads, respectively. For present purposes it will sufiice to show this boardsupporting means in the form of members 50, 50 (Fig. 1). Referring more particularly to Figs. 9, 13, and 18, the composite bearing block 23 serves to guide a vertically reciprocable shroud 52 actuated cyclically by mechanism subsequently explained. This shroud, together with a face plate 54 secured thereto, provides a vertical guideway for an inserting bar 56 reciprocably slidable therein as determined by other cyclically actuated mechanism later to be described. A T-shaped spring clip 58 is secured to the lower rear side of the inserting bar 56, and the lower end of the bar is provided with a capacitor-receiving recess 60 (Fig. 11) prcf erably shaped by differently sized end-milling cutters. This recess is semicircular and provided with an arcuate wall in order to accommodate a component body as shown in Fig. 12; and to insure better control over each body by restraining it from rotation in its general plane, the configuration of the recess 60 is preferably such that at two primary and oppositely disposed points or apexes 62, 62 (Fig. 11) holding engagement is had with'the circular periphery of the body. It should be noted'that the lower end of the inserting bar is formed with recesses for receiving a pair of spaced vertical rails '64, 64 (Fig. 18) integral -with the shroud 52, the rails initially determining the limit of inward feeding movement of each capacitor body into the shroud from the raceway before the depending end of the clip 58 descends 'with the inserting bar releasably to hold the component. As shown in Fig. 13, the spring clip is shaped yieldingly to engage each body above and below center and thus urges the component against the arcuate inner wall of the inserting bar 56 to locate the body in the desired vertical plane and guard against its tilting therefrom.

In order to transfer successive endmost components C from the raceway and into a position in the head such that they may be properly received and held by the insorting bar as just described, means now to be explained is provided for horizontally reciprocating a shelf 66 (Figs. 13, 16, 17, and 18) in time relation to the reciprocations of the shroud. The shelf -hes a forked end adapted to extend between and receive the depending leads of several of the components 'as they emerge side by side from the substantially horizontal lower end of the slotted raceway, the rail 29 tapering at its lower end and serving throughout its length to preserve component alinement. Projections 68, 68 of the shelf engage the lower portion of'each body perimeter adjacent to and between the leads as shown, for example, in Fig. 14. For a reason mentioned later the outer side faces of the projections 68 preferably diverge somewhat as they extend rearwardly, and they are spaced to straddle the path of an upstanding finger-like picker 70 (Figs. 10, 13, 16, and 18) which is integral with the shroud face plate 54. The shelf 66 is slidable in a guideway formed in a block 72 (Figs-2 and 13) and on a horizontal plate 74, the block 72 and the plate 74 being-secured by screws 76 to the bracket 24. A bracket support 78 secured to the lower end of the cover :plate 26 and received in depending portions of the block 72 aids in locating the block 72 during machine assembly and thus assists in positioning the raceway deliveryend accurately. 'To actuate the shell in time relation to the inserting mechanism a cam block 80 (Figs. 9, 13, and 18) is securedto the shroud face plate 54, oppositely inclined cam surfaces 82, 84 being arranged to cooperate with it roll 86 mounted on one end of a plunger 88 that is slidable in a horizontal bore 90 formed in the bracket 24. The other end of the plunger carries a transversely extending pin 92 slidable laterally in a horizontal slot 94 formed in the bracket 24. A bearing block 96 on each end of the pin 22 is 'arranged to ride in avertical slot 98 formed in each of two parallel shelf-operating levers 100, 100 respectively fulcrurned at their upper ends on a pin 102 journaled in the bracket 24. Forked lower ends of the levers 101 engage bearing blocks 1114, respectively mounted on a coupling pin 106 extending through the shelf 66. Thus, vertical movement of the cam block 80 is effective to impart horizontal movement to the shelf, a pair of springs 168 respectively connecting the levers 100 to the bracket 24 tending yieldingly to maintain the roll 86 in engagement with the cam block 80. During descent of the block 80 the roll 86 does not actually engage the block between the surfaces 32, 84, due to the fact that the ends of the projections 68 are permitted to ride on the front face of the inserting bar for a portion of the cycle, as indicated in Fig. 19.

Referring to Fig. 13, it is to be noted that at the start of a cycle a first component C about to be installed has been transferred from the shelf 66 and into the shroud beneath the inserting bar 56, and the next component C to be installed is supported on the ends of the projections 68. The body of said next component is held in contact with the front of thepicker '70 through the influence of gravity acting uponthe components stacked in the raceway, operation of the shelf-operating mechanism having the incidental and beneficial effect of advancing the stacked components by reason of vibrations imparted to the raceway through the motions of a forked picker spring 110. In order to explain how elements in the head 32 cooperate in a cycle with the shelf 66 to transfer said next component into the position referred to as being beneath the inserting bar 56, the inserting bar will be assumed to have carried said first component to inserting position along with the shroud 52, as shown in Fig. 16. The lower end of the forked picker spring 110 (Figs. 9 and 18) aflixed at its upper end to the shroud face plate 54 engages, in the course of the inserting stroke, an inclined cam 112 integral with the plate 26 and is thereby deflected to the right (as seen in Fig. 13) and across the top of said next component C yieldingly to urge it along the shelf 66 and toward the shroud. Accordingly, when the inserting bar and shroud have descended, as shown in Fig. 16, the forked lower ends of the picker spring move the component inwardly over the top of the picker and against the front side of the inserting bar. A stop 11 1 integral with the cam 112 insures that the component being moved through openings in the plates 26 and 54 and against the inserting bar 56 is not thereafter pulled upwardly by the picker spring 110. The back of the cam 112 is provided with a vertical clearance slot for the picker '70. After upward retraction of the inserting bar from its inserting position to clear the next component, the shroud is also retracted upwardly to cause a cam 116 formed on the back of the picker 70 to engage the component body being positioned in the head and thus shift the component further inwardly and against the shroud rails 64, and the shelf 66 is likewise allowed to move farther inwardly to support the shifted component, the projections 68 then dwelling under the inserting bar, as shown in Fig. 17.

During the dwell of the shelf 66, as just mentioned, the inserting bar moves down with the spring clip 58 to accommodate and constrain the component body, as above explained. The shroud 52 thereupon moves upwardly for the purpose of seating and, if necessary, straightening the leads of the component in semi-conical channels 120, 120 (Figs. 11 and 18) of cooperative side lead guides 122, 122, respectively, and smaller semiconical recesses 124, 124 formed in a central lead guide 126. The channels 120 and the recesses 124 are arranged, when the three lead guides are caused to assume closed or funnel positions by means to be described, to define at their lower ends spaced passageways that are offset or disposed on opposite sides of the plane containing the body perimeter and thus obtain accurate register of the leads with their respective chassis holes. The central lead guide 126 is pivotally supported by a pair of circular ears fitted in sockets 128, 128 (Fig. 18) formed in the shroud, and closing movement of the central lead guide is controlled by a roll 130 mounted thereon and arranged for cooperation with a cam surface 132 (Figs. 2 and 18) formed on the internal back wall of the bearing block 28. A compression spring 134, having its ends nested in bores formed in the shroud and the central lead guide, respectively, causes the roll 130 to be maintained in engagement with the surface 132, The side lead guides 122 are pivotally carried by fulcrum pins 136 respectively journaled in lugs formed On the shroud. A roll 138 mounted on the upper end of each side lead guide is arranged to ride down on adjacent vertical,- parallel side edges of the plate 26 (Fig. 9) and then onto a vertical spring-pressed lever 14 3 (Figs. 14 and 18) pivotally carried by the plate 26. The lead guides having moved into closed, lead-confining positions beneath the component held in the inserting bar recess 60, the shelf 66 is retracted from the inserting bar and shroud which are then free to be moved downwardly together with the component by operating mechanism later to be described. It is during this retractive movement of the shelf that the divergence of the projections 68, 68, referred to above, is effective to spread the leads of the component into parallel relation, if necessary, and thus assist in properly straightening and preparing them for reception in the lead guide channels. The center lead guide 126 is, in the latter portion of the inserting stroke, retracted by the cam 132 from beneath the component, and thereafter when the side lead guides have reached the surface of the wiring board, cams 142 formed on the lower end of the inserting bar are caused to engage the semi-conical channels 120, 120, respectively, to deflect the side lead guides from beneath the component (see Figs. 14 and 16), thus clearing the way for the inserting bar to thrust the leads fully into the wiring board holes. Employment of the spring-pressed levers is for the purpose of retarding the outward deflection of the side lead guides as long as possible in the down stroke to insure accurate guidance substantially up to the chassis holes.

In order that upward retraction of the inserting bar 56 and its clip 58 from the wiring board may not cause withdrawal of the just installed component, the inserting bar is formed with a vertical kerf 143 (Figs. 10, 15, and

18) and a central bore communicating therewith in which an ejector rod or holddown 144 is slidably mounted. The normal heightwlse position of this holddown is such that its lower end normally does not quite touch the top of a component body in the recess 60 (Fig. 11)., The holddown is connected at its upper end to the lower end of a toggle link 146 that is connected at its other end to the lower end of a toggle link 148. The latter is pivoted at its upper end on a pin 150 extending through the walls of the inserting bar, the link 148 normally being held against a stop pin 152 in the bar by means of a spring 154 suspended in the kerf from a pin 156 affixed to the bar. When the inserting bar descends from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 15, a projecting detent 158 formed on the link 148 is disposed to engage a ratchet 160 on a lever 162 pivotally suspended at its upper end on a pin 164 journaled in the bearing block 28. As the detent rides down over the biased teeth of the ratchet, the lever 162 is thus swung away from the inserting bar against the resistance of a headed plunger 166. The plunger 166 is tubular to receive one end of a compression spring 168 and is slidable in a bore formed in the support 36. The other end of the spring 163 engages a screw 170 threaded into the support 36. Referring to Fig. 15, when the inserting bar 56 is retracted from the wiring board, the pin 150 is lifted and tends to straighten the toggle 146, 143. Accordingly, after the clip 58 is free of the installed component, the detent is permitted to slide upwardly over the ratchet 160 under the influence of the spring 154.

The mechanisms for operating the inserting bar 56 and the shroud 52 will next be explained. An air motor 172 (Figs. 5 and 8) secured in the base of the C-frame is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure by a pipe 174, admission of the air under pressure being under the control of a solenoid valve S11 (Figs. 1 and 20) referred to hereinafter. A piston rod 178 of the motor is accordingly movable upwardly against the resistance of a return spring 180. The upper end of the rod 178 is provided with a coupling 182 (Fig. 8) connected to a socket 184 for threadedly receiving at its upper end a coupling 166 (Figs. 2 and 8) having connection with the lower end of a vertically reciprocable rack 188. The latter is slidably mounted in a guideway formed in a bracket 190 secured to the C-frame and meshes with a pinion gear 192 afiixed on a driving shaft 194 having bearings in the bracket 199. The left-hand end of the shaft 194 (as seen in Fig. 2) extends coaxially into a conventional type of one-way clutch, generally designated 196 in Figs. 2 and 3. As indicated in Fig. 3, the shaft 194 is surrounded by a plurality of tangential sprags 193 in a race 200. The arrangement is such that upward movement of the rack 188 is effective to rotate the shaft 194 and, through the clutch 196, to impart a complete revolution to a cam plate 202, the sprags having portions of their peripheries so shaped that their individual rotation in one direction on their axes effects a driving coupling for rotating a hub of the cam plate. Upon reaching the upper limit of movement of the rack at actuation of control means hereinafter described, the spring 180 is effective to retract the rack to starting position, the shape of the sprags then permitting the shaft 194 to rotate reversely without reversing rotation of the cam plate 202.

Each revolution of the cam plate 202, which is secured on a shaft 264 journaled in the C-frarne, corresponds with a cycle of the machine head, a cam slot 206 in the plate controlling the inserting bar 56 and a cam slot 2&3 in the plate controlling the shroud 52. An inserter operating lever 21% pivoted on the frame at 212 (Fig. 2) has at one end a roll 214 for cooperating with the slot 296 and at its other end a gear segment 216 arranged to mesh with a pinion gear 218. The gear 218 is afiixed on a horizontal shaft 220, the left-hand end of which (as seen in Fig. 2) is journaled in the frame 4%. A shroud-operating lever 222 having its lower end pivoted on a bracket 224 secured in the C-frame is provided at its upper end with a gear segment 226 arranged to mesh with a pinion gear secured on a horizontal shaft 239, the left-hand portion of which (as seen in Fig. 2) has hearings in the bracket 199. The lever 222 carries a roll 232 cooperative with the cam slot 203. The shafts 220, 230 are respectively connected for a reason to be mentioned by couplings 234, 236 (Fig. 2) to stub shafts 238, 24% having hearings in the front of the C-frame. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the shafts 233, 2 24! carry on their front ends, respectively, pinion gears 242, 244, the gear 242 being arranged to mesh with a circular rack 245 formed on a tubular extension 248 of the inserting bar. This extension is connected to the reduced upper end of the inserting bar by a pin 250 (Fig. 10) carried thereby and extending through a vertical slot 252 formed in the extension. The lower end of a compression spring 254 within the extension 8 engages the upper end of the inserting bar, and the upper end of the spring bears on a cap 256 threaded into the upper end of the extension, the pin 250 thus being normally and yieldingly held at the lower end of the slot 252. This construction accordingly affords protective means for the driving mechanism, an unintended cngagement of the inserting bar with some obstruction merely resulting in upward yielding movement of the inserting bar with respect to the extension. The gear 244 is arranged to mesh with a circular rack 258 (Figs. 2 and 4) formed on a tubular sleeve 260 having a T-shaped slot formed in its lower end for receiving a T-shaped coupling 262 (Figs. 10 and 17) integral with the shroud 52. The tubular sleeve 260 and the extension 248 are guided for heightwise movement in a casing secured on the C-frarne. From the foregoing it will be understood that each upstroke of the piston rod 173 is effective cyclically to actuate the shroud 52, the inserting bar 56, and other head-operating parts,

, including the feeding mechanism, the three lead guides,

and the holddown 144, in appropriate sequence. Clamping screws 266 (Fig. 2) extending through arcuate slots (not shown) formed in the couplings 234, 234, and threaded into the couplings 236, respectively, enable a heightwise adjustment of the shroud and inserting bar, which is finer than the rack and pinion engagements otherwise permit, this finer adjustment being highly desirable accurately to accommodate very slight variances in dimensions of the leads and/ or thickness of the wiring boards.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the upstroke of the motor 172 is also utilized to move anvil mechanism, generally designated 268, to be described, from an inoperative position upwardly to a position adjacent to the underside of the wiring board, a position in which clinching of the leads that have been thrust downwardly by the means above explained will be effective. The coupling 132 (Fig. 5) carries a cross bar 279 which supports at its ends a pair of depending levers 272, 272. Each lever 272 is provided at its lower end with a pin 274 received in a lost motion slot 276 in one end of a bell crank lever 278 pivoted in the base of the C-frame. The other corresponding ends of the levers 278 have pin-and-slot connection with corresponding cnds of parallel links 280 (one shown), the front ends of which are pivotally connected to the upper ends, respectively, of hell crank levers 282 (one shown), fulcrumed at 284 on a bracket 236 secured in the C-frame. The bracket 286, in addition to serving as a vertical guideway for the anvil mechanism to be described, threadedly receives the upper end of a clamping bolt 238, the lower end of which e. tends through a bar 290 spanning an opening in a workbench or other support on which the machine is to be mounted in selected position. The lower ends of the levers 282 are pivotally connected to an anvil-carrying cylinder 292 that is thus moved upward against the resistance of return springs 294, 296, respectively biasing the levers 278 and the links 280. A holder 298 (Figs. 5 and 6) has its hub mounted in the upper end of the cylinder 292, the holder being held against relative heightwise movement by a rod 300 transversely extending through the cylinder and secured in a peripheral slot of the holder by a set screw 302. Screws 364 (Fig. 6) secure on oppositely disposed marginal portions of the perimeter of the holder a pair of semicircular clamping rings 366, 368, which cooperate with a recessed portion of the holder to determine guideways for a pair of individually adjustable blocks 310, 31%] (Figs. 5, 6, and 7), walls 312, 31 (Fig. 6) of the recessed portion of the holder being semicircular and having equal radii and centers that are spaced apart to correspond to the distance between the axes of the wirmg board holes. An outer portion of a wedge-shaped of each block 319 accordingly engages a wall 312, and an inner portion of the base is retained by an arcuate guide disk 314 screwed to the holder.

Mounted in a horizontal, radially extending guideway 316 formed in each block 310 is a rack 318 having an integral, upwardly inclined anvil arm 320, the upper end of which is provided with an inverted U-shaped surface 322 for bending and wiping a lead inwardly or outwardly in any selected horizontal direction considered radially from the point of protrusion of the lead from its wiring board hole. For convenience in selecting desired directions of lead clinching the blocks 310 each carry reference pins 324 which may be registered with adjacent degree scales formed on the rings 306, 308, the zero points of the scales in this instance being shown (Fig. 6) as lying on a line contained by the plane passing through the axes of the unclinched leads when inserted. The surfaces 322 are preferably concave to provide a centralizing effect and thus improve directional control over the leads. Radial lead wiping movement of the respective surfaces 322 toward and from their corresponding lead holes is effected by a segment gear 326 (Figs. and 7) formed on a lever 328 pivoted in each of the blocks 310 on a pin 330, the gears meshing with the teeth of the racks 318, respectively. For simultaneously actuating the clinching surfaces 322, rounded ends of the levers 328 are received between horizontal disks formed on the upper end of a vertically reciprocable piston rod 332 (Fig. 5) extending in the cylinder 292. Threaded on the rod 332 is a piston 334 whichis movable upwardly upon admission of air under pressure via a conduit 336 to the lower side of the piston, and is movable downwardly upon admission of air under pressure via a hose 338 to the upper side of the piston, the hose and, conduit alternatively serving as an exhaust. The limit of upward movement of the cylinder 292, and hence of the lead engaging surfaces 322, is adjustably determined by engagement of a surface 340 of the cylinder with a nut 342 threaded on a stud 344 secured in the C-frame.

By way of reviewing operation of the machine and describing its electrical controls, as herein provided for purposes of illustration, reference may be had to Figs. 19 and 20. The latter schematically indicates the machine as fitted with a manually operative control switch M1 (Figs. 1 and 20) that is closed to energize a coil K1 through a normally closed contact K3A, thus closing contacts KIA, K1B, and KIC. The coil K1 is now maintained energized through the contacts KIA and K3A, though the switch Ml be released. As a consequence, the solenoid valve S11 (Figs. 1 and 20) is energized through the contact K3A and the contact KlB, the valve S11 admitting air under pressure to the motor 172 to cause upward movement of the rack 188 (Figs. 2 and 8) which operates through the clutch 196 cyclically to actuate the head 32 as above explained. A solenoid valve S13 (Figs. 1, 8, and 20) for unlatching the cam plate 202 is energized (simultaneously with the valve S11) through a normally closed contact K2D and the contact KlC. The solenoid S13 is arranged to operate parallel links 346 (one shown, Figs. 1 and 8) connected to one end of a bell crank lever 348 pivoted on a bracket 350 secured to the C-frame. The other end of the lever 348 is forked to receive and actuate a pin 352 affixed in a spring-pressed plunger 354 carrying a roll 356 (Fig. 8). The latter normally is disposed to engage a hardened insert 358 (Figs. 2 and 8) secured in a slot formed in the cam plate 202, but is retracted therefrom upon energization of the solenoid valve S13 to permit rotation of the cam plate 202 through exactly 360 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3.

The upward movement of the rack 188 also operates.

K4B, and K4C close, and either a solenoid valve 812 or S14 is energized through contacts K413 and K2A, depending on the position of a double-throw toggle switch TS (Figs. 1,2, and 20) which thus is effective optionally to provide directional clinching "either inwardly, i. e., so that the lead ends are wiped by a pulling action of the anvil arms 320, or outwardly as by a pushing action on the leads. The function of the normally closed contact K2A is to insure that the piston 344 is preliminarily shifted up or down if necessary to enable a clinching stroke to be made in the desired direction by the anvil arms. If the solenoid valve S14, for example, is energized and admits air under pressure via the conduit 336, the piston 334 will automatically and immediately assume an initial lower position in the cylinder 292 and then be forced upwardly so that the surfaces 322 can be moved outwardly on their predetermined radii to bend and wipe their protruding leads into clinching positions presumably best adapted to yield the effective electrical connections desired. In the course of upward movement of the rack 188 and rotation of the driving shaft 194 a rotarycam 362 (Figs. 2 and 8) affixed on the latter is effective to close a cam switch M2 whereby a coil K2 is energized through the contact K4A. Thereupon the coil K2 opens the contact K2D to de-energize the solenoid valve S13 and permit release and return of the plunger 354.. The coil K2 remains energized through the contact K4A and a now close-d contact K2C. The valves S12 and S14 are energized and deenergized through the contact K4B and through the now open contact K2A or the nowclosed contact K213, depending on the position of the toggle switch TS.

Installation and lead clinching being completed by the head instrumentalities and anvil mechanism, respectively, as the rack 188 reaches its upper limit of movement, a switch M3 (Figs. 2 and 8) is closed by engagement therewith of a thumb screw 364 a-djustably carried by the coupling 186. As a consequence, a coil K3 is energized through the contact K4C. A contact K3B thereupon closes to maintain the coil K3 energized, and the contact K3A is now opened to de-energize the coil Kl. The contact KlB consequently opens to-deenergize the solenoid valve S11 and allow the rack 188 to return downwardly to its starting position, the contacts KIA and KlC also opening. When the rack 188 thus returns to its initial position, the switch M4 is opened to de-energize the coil K4. The contact K4A opens, and the coil K2 is de-energized, allowing the contact K2D to close, and

the contact K2C to open. The contact K4B opens, deenergizing either the solenoid valve S12 or S14, and the contact K2A is closed, and the contact KZB opened. Finally, the contact K4C opens to de-energize the coil K3, causing thecontact K3A to close and the contact K3B to open. The machine has then completed one cycle of operations and is ready to begin a new cycle.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention affords a reliable, high production machine capable of installing radial lead type components securely and in uniform manner.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as 1 new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United from said means, a reciprocable inserting member mounted in the head for movement along a path in register with said holes, an end of said member carrying component body-engaging means for releasably holding each component with its leads directed toward said holes, a raceway having a delivery end arranged for conducting successive components in alined formation toward the head, a reciprocatory shelf cooperative with the raceway delivery end and movable into said head adjacent to the inenergizing a coil K4. As a consequence, contacts K4A, setting member to support successive endmost cont- 11 ponents until they are individually held by said component body-engaging means,

2. A machine for mounting radial lead type components comprising means for supporting a chassis having holes into which the leads are to be inserted, a head spaced from said means and movably mounted for register with said holes, a shroud mounted in said head for movement relatively to the chassis, an inserting member slidably mounted in said shroud for movement along a path in register with said chassis holes, said member having a component body-receiving end adapted to restrain a component against relative movement, means for positioning successive components in said end of the inserting member when retracted from the chassis, cooperative lead guides independently mounted on said shroud for movement heightwise and laterally of said path, means to close said guides and hold them closed on the leads of each component as it is being advanced toward the chassis, and means for retracting said guides laterally from the path of the component body as its leads are about to be thrust into the chassis holes by said inserting member.

3. In a machine for inserting the leads of successive components into holes formed in a chassis, a head spaced from the chassis, a reciprocable inserting member mounted in the head and movable toward and from said chassis holes, means on said member for releasably holding a component body with its leads directed toward said holes, and means for placing successive components to be installed into a position in said head wherein each component may be transferred to the control of said inserting member and holding means, said placing means comprising a raceway having a delivery end adjacent to the head, a reciprocable shelf shaped to support the bodies of endmost components as they emerge from the raceway delivery end and to guide their leads in formation, and means mounted in said head for movement in time relation to said inserting member to position uccessive endmost components on said shelf and in cooperative relation with said member and holding means.

4. A machine for installing radial lead type components in chassis, comprising means for supporting a chassis, a head spaced from said means, a shroud mounted in said head for movement toward and from the chassis, an inserting member mounted for relative movement with respect to said shroud and adapted releasably to engage successive component bodies in portions spaced from their leads, lead guides operatively connected to said shroudand provided with conical channels, said guides being movable into and out of lead-guiding position in time relation to the operating strokes of said inserting member, and mechanism associated with said head for feeding successive components to said member with their leads respectively in register with the lead-guiding positions of said guides, said feeding mechanism including picker means mounted on said shroud and operative upon movement of the latter in one direction to position each endmost component for engagement by said inserting member.

5. A machine for installing radial lead type components in chassis, comprising means for supporting a chassis, a head spaced from said means, a shroud mounted in said head for movement toward and from the chassis, an inserting member mounted for relative movement with respect to said shroud and adapted releasably to engage successive component bodies in portionsspaced from their leads, lead guides operatively connected to said shroud and provided with conical channels, said guides being movable into and out of lead-guiding position in time relation to the operating strokes of said inserting member, and mechanism associated with said head for feeding successive components to said member with their leads respectively in register with the leadguiding positions of said guides, said lead guides including a pair of cooperative side lead guides respectively formed with a semi-conical channel and a. center lead guide formed with a pair of channels, said channels together defining a pair of passageways for the leads when the guides assume their lead guiding positions.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 and further characterized in that the semi-conical channels of said side lead guides are larger than the channels of said center lead guide to afford centralized reception of a portion of the perimeter of each component body.

7. In a component installing machine of the type having a reciprocable inserting member for thrusting the leads of a component into selected position with respect to a chassis, a holddown arranged within the member and normally disposed nearly to engage the body of a component to be installed thereby, means for guiding the member along a path extending toward and from the chassis, a ratchet on said guiding means, and mechanism including a toggle cooperative with said ratchet and conmeeting the member and holddown for controlling their relative movement with respect to the chassis.

8. A machine forinstalling radial lead type components in chassis, comprising means for supporting a chassis, a head spaced from said means, a shelf movably mounted in said head and having a divergent end portion for supporting in aligned formation the components successively to be fed thereto, a shroud slidably mounted in said head for movement toward and from the chassis and adapted to receive the divergent end portion of said shelf, an inserting member mounted in said shroud for cyclical movement in time relation to the shelf and disposed releasablyto engage successive endmost components presented thereto by said shelf.

9. A machine. for installing radial lead type components, as set forth in claim 8, and further characterized in that said head includes an actuating cam, and means connected to said shelf is arranged to cooperate with said cam to control the relative movements of the shelf with respect to said inserting member and shroud.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized in that the divergent end portion of said shelf. is forked, and that said shroud carries a picker arrangedto extend, during retraction of the shroud from the chassis, into said forked end portion to urge an endmost component on the shelf into position to be releasably engaged by said inserting member.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 and further characterized in that said shroud also carries a picker spring arranged to extend, during an advance of the shroud toward the chassis, into engagement with an endmost component on said shelf, yieldingly to urge the component therealong for the subsequent positioning action thereon of said picker.

12. In a machine for installing two leads of a component in preformed holes in a chassis and having a reciprocable inserting member movable heightwise to carry the component by its body along a path in register with said holes, a shroud within which said member is slidably mounted, a pair of side lead guides and a cooperative center lead guide pivotally mounted on said shroud, said guides being shaped cooperatively to define passageways in register with said holes, means for moving said shroud heightwise in time relation to the movement of said member to cause said guides to close on said leads beneath the component body, means to deflect the center lead guide from the component to be installed, and means operative thereafter to permit the inserting member to deflect the side lead guides from the path of the body.

13. A machine for installing radial lead type components in holes in chassis, comprising means for supporting a chassis, a machine head spaced from said means and having a bearing block adjustable for register with said holes, a shroud mounted in said block for movement toward and from the chassis, an inserting member mounted in said shroud for movement toward and from the chassis, and adapted releasably to hold each component body to be installed with its leads directed toward 

